Remitting funds under State Bank limits
The State Bank of Pakistan allows each resident individual to remit up to USD 100,000 per calendar year for permissible purposes including property abroad. For an Emaar apartment starting near AED 1.6 million, two people (such as a couple) remitting in the same year usually cover a single purchase; larger villas can be split across two calendar years. Your bank converts PKR to AED and wires directly to the developer's escrow account against the proforma invoice and allotment letter.
- File the prescribed State Bank declaration with your bank each time you remit.
- Keep the developer's proforma invoice, allotment letter and bank proof, the bank asks for them.
- Joint remittance with a spouse doubles the per-year allowance for one purchase.
Tax on rental income for Pakistani residents
The UAE levies no income tax on rental income. As a Pakistan tax resident, your Dubai rental is taxable in Pakistan as foreign-sourced income and is added to your total taxable income at your slab rate. You must file it on your annual income tax return with the FBR. There is no UAE withholding tax on rental repatriated to Pakistan, and a UAE-Pakistan tax treaty exists, though because the UAE rate is zero little relief flows through in practice.
- Declare foreign rental and the Dubai property on your FBR return.
- Capital gains on selling the Dubai property are taxable in Pakistan at your applicable rate.
The 10-year Golden Visa in rupees
An investment of AED 2 million, approximately PKR 15 crore at current rates, qualifies you, your spouse and children for a 10-year renewable UAE Golden Visa. Several Emaar apartments in Dubai Creek Harbour, Downtown and Emaar Beachfront start near or above this level. The visa requires no minimum stay to renew and does not, on its own, change your Pakistan tax residency.
Remote purchase and the Power of Attorney
Most Pakistani buyers do not need to fly in for every signature. You can issue a Special Power of Attorney to a family member or advisor in Dubai, attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan and the UAE Embassy, then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which lets them sign the SPA, register with the Dubai Land Department and collect keys. We help arrange the paperwork and the escrow wiring so the purchase completes with one short visit for handover.